Active Street Photographers You Should Know About

These artists are regularly making images in their unique styles, and deserve a follow.

I’ve written about legendary street photographers like the late Vivian Maier and Henri Cartier-Bresson, and others who are no longer snapping photos. However, there are a number of amazing street shooters still actively capturing everyday life that you should be checking out.

Each of these photographers brings a unique perspective and style to their work, some leaning more towards documentary work (photojournalism) than random street scenes.

In any case, their work is highly inspiring and impactful, so here are some of them in no particular order:

Billy Dinh (Billydeee)

https://www.instagram.com/billydeee/

Billy is based in New York City, and you’re never quite sure what he will come up with. Not only are his photos technically brilliant, he also has a super sharp eye for composition on the fly.

He is a master of using available light, and often mixes in some moodiness to enhance the overall experience. He is definitely not afraid to shoot at night — some of his best work is from after the sun goes down.

Suzanne Stein

https://www.instagram.com/suzanne_stein/?img_index=1

I’ve been following photographer and writer Suzanne Stein’s work for some time now. She gives an artful and respectful look into lives of those with addictions, particularly those in Kensington, Philadelphia where the opioid crisis is growing worse.

She says in the above post that she has faced a lot of backlash for documenting these peoples’ lives, but she continues to showcase her important work on Instagram and elsewhere.

Not only are her images impactful, but you can sense the care she has for her subjects by the way she interacts with them. A must follow.

Peter Turnley

Lens-based artist Peter Turnley has been photographing the world for several decades, capturing many powerful images for covers and features in prominent publications.

While he has found himself in war zones, including the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, his latest images from the cafes and streets of Paris and Venice are pure poetry. He shoots primarily in black and white, taking advantage of weather conditions and available light to add moodiness to his street portraits.

Peter has produced several photo books including his newest — The Other California 1975. I plan to request one of them for Christmas (if my partner is reading this, you’re welcome!)

He also has a knack for storytelling with words, although his pictures say a lot.

Paola Franqui (Monaris)

https://www.instagram.com/monaris_/

Monaris consistently produces wow level street photography, capturing genuine expressions through store windows (you can sometimes see her in the reflections) and on the streets of New York City.

Paola is a master of moments, her images both sharp and vivid. She has a signature “coolness” to her colour scale, which gives the pictures a dreamy, cinematic feel. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t check out her portfolio of gems.

Danny Jackson (Barksey)

https://www.instagram.com/_barksey_/

UK-based street shooter Barksey has a wide collection of candid and posed street portraits, all of them worth a look. He finds the most interesting looking people going about their daily business, and turns them into art.

He is also part of the team that runs Keep Calm And Carry One, showcasing striking moments of people and their pets.

Monique Campbell

https://www.instagram.com/moments_by_monique/

This one might be a bit biased, because Monique is a friend of mine that lives in my city. We have shot together a few times, and she has led a number of street photo walks and photo talks in our city and beyond.

Her skill has developed considerably over the time I’ve known her, and she is getting international recognition, even having an image featured in the world-famous Louvre.

While most of her portraits are pure candids, some of her more recent ones are posed portraits of strangers on the street, which are equally as appealing. I am always excited to see new work from Monique — and sometimes I recognize her subjects!

Catherine Auzuret (sawadicat)

https://www.instagram.com/sawadicat/

Fine art street photographer Auzuret has gained a rather large following on Instagram, and for good reason.

Her images range from protests to parades, alternating between black and white and colour to add mood to the photos. Based in Paris, her subjects are from all walks of life.

Another of her specialties is shooting fashion mannequins through glass, giving them a life of their own. Be sure to check out this superb shooter.

Dave Green

https://www.instagram.com/davegreen63/

Dave is fairly local to me, based in Toronto (about 60 kilometres from my city of Hamilton, Ontario.) While not having a huge following like some of the others on this list, I’m continuously impressed by Dave’s sharp eye.

Many of his photos on Instagram are from previous eras in Toronto, giving some insight into the city’s history. Vintage signs and storefronts are also featured on his account.

He is another street photog who alternates successfully between colour and b/w. Give him a follow, and help his work reach more eyes.

So, who else should I follow?

There are many other artists I could feature in this article, and I may feature them in a second edition.

I came across many of these photographers on Instagram, which is slowly being overtaken by Threads as a place to post your best images.

I’m interested in hearing about street/documentary photographers that you think should get more attention. Please leave a link to their work in the comments, and I might include them in future articles!